Explosion-engine.



L. E. & M..G. FRANCE.

EXPLOSION ENGINE.

APPLICATION IILED 111111. 22, 1911. RENEWED JAN. 20.1913. 1,070,884.

Patented Aug. 19, 1913.

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HIII

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented Aug. 19, 1913.

L. E. & M. C. FRANCE. EXPLOSION ENGINE.

APPLIQATION FILED MAR. 22, 1911. RENEWED JAN. 20,1913.

APH co wAsnmnToN D c UNITED STATES P TENT oEEroE.

LESTER E. FRANCE AND MERLE c. FRANCE, 0F CLEVELAND, OHIO.

EXPLOSION-ENGINE.

Application filed March 22, 1911, Serial No. 616,268.

Specification of Letters Patent.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, LESTER E. FRANCE and MERLE C. FRANCE, citizens of the United States, and residents of Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Explosion-Engines, of which we hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The objects of the invention are to provide a compact and eflicient form of explosion engine in which the parts are simple in construction and wherein the admission of gas and air to the cylinder port and engine casing is controlled by means of a hollow rotary valve independent of the piston intermediate between the cylinder port and inlet passages for the gas and air, and in which valve the commingling of the gas and air also takes place. It is also adapted for use with the gaseous mixture from a carbureter.

The invention further has reference to timer mechanism rotatably connected with the valve whereby the movements of the valve and timer are made to correspond and the invention also comprises means for adjusting the relative positions of the contacts in the timer to insure the creation of the spark at the time of complete closing of the inlet port.

The invention further has reference to a circulating water system for cooling the explosion end of the cylinder.

The invention further consists in the de tail construction and arrangement of the various valve portions, to obtain at all times a condition of full atmospheric pressure therein, to provide separate inlet openings for gas and air thereto, and a common outlet opening leading to the passage connecting the casing chamber and the inlet port in the cylinder.

It also consists in the combination and arrangement and construction of the various parts as hereinafter described, shown in the accompanying drawings and specifically pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a vertical central section through the cylinder and piston, showing also the valve and detachable valve casing and the gas and air inlets and cylinder ports and passage con necting the inlet port and the chambered crank casing. It also shows the pump by means ofwhich the water circulation is obtained; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the valve casing; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section thereof showing the outlet opening in section; Fig. 4 is a similar section of the same through the air and gas inlet passages; Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the cylindrical valve Fig. 6 is a transverse section thereof through the outlet opening; Fig. 7 is a transverse section through the air inlets; Fig. 8 is a similar section through the gas inlet opening.

In these views 1 is the cylinder having the inlet port or ports 2 and exhaust port or ports 3 controlled by the piston as in an ordinary two cycle engine; 3 is the piston, 4 the piston rod, 5, 5, the crank, and 6 the shaft. The crank casing 7 contains the chamber 8 which communicates with the inlet port- 2 by means of a passage 9 formed preferably in the wall of the cylinder; a fine netting 10 covers the inlet ports.

11 is the valve casing, in a longitudinal cylindrical opening 12 in which is placed the hollow cylindrical valve 13. closed at each end and is provided with one or more openings 1%, 14 through which the air under atmospheric pressure is always free to enter into the elongated central opening 15. This freedom of admission is more readily obtained by means of the annular opening 16 in the casing 11, which encircles the valve and which is always in communication with one of the openings 14-, 14; in the valve. 7

17 is the gas admission opening whichextends through nearly one half of the periphcry of the valve and communicates when in one position with the gas inlet passage 18 in the valve casing. This opening 17 for gas admission is located between the air admission opening and the outlet opening 19 which is relatively placed for convenience at an angle of approximately 90 to the gas inlet opening so as to be able to co'mmuni cate with the opening 20 in the casing which leads to the passage 9 in the cylinder body through the opening 9 in the casing. Upon the relative positions of the air and gas inlet openings and the outlet opening in the valve depends the value of the valve as a commingling chamber. The air entering at the opening 141 at atmospheric pressure carries along with it the gas entering the opening 17 and the length of the inner opening 15 is suflicient to enable the gas and air to This valve is thmtoughly commingle before they pass out of the inlet opening 19. The openings 1? and 1.9 are closed on the downward stroke of the piston as the mixture of gas and air is compressed in the casing chamber 8, and while the compressed mixture of gas and air is entering the cylinder port 2, but open to permit the piston to draw the explosive mixture into the casing chamber for a fresh charge as the piston rises. The valve is conveniently operated by means of miter gears 22 and 23 on the lower extremity of the valve and upon the shaft respectively, and the gears being of equal size the movements of the piston and valve are relatively and accurately timed to provide one charge for each revolution of the shaft and reciprocation of the piston. the charge being introduced at precisely the time desired. On the outward stroke of the engine the valve will instantly close the admission openings without requiring accessory devices of any kind. This form of valve has a positive movement and no spring or suction operated mechanism interferes with or restricts the perfect action and free admission of gas. This valve increases the volume of gas over that ob tained in a three port explosion engine where the intake is controlled by a suction valve and also where the piston only governs the openings. When used with a carbureter the non-restricted continuous intake causes certain and perfect carbureter action which is of vital importance even with the most perfect carbureter. hen a carbureter is employed the gas inlet opening may of course be closed.

In Fig. 1 the engine cylinder is shown provided with the inclosing annular chamber A through which water circulates to cool the engine. For this purpose the chamber is provided with the inlet opening B and outlet opening C. The circulation is established by means of the pumping piston D operating in the cylinder E and actuated by means of the eccentric F upon the engine shaft. The operating parts of the pump comprise an inlet valve G seated at H in an inlet opening I and adapted to admit the water into the passage J and an outlet Valve K of greater size and weight than the valve G and seated at L in the outlet passage M, vertically above the inlet opening H to the pump. In operation when the piston descends the valve G will rise and will be limited in its movement by striking against the valve K which can be adjusted in thickness to permit of the required amount of opening of the valve G. The movement of the valve K can be regulated by means of the projection N upon the screw threaded plug P. Through the opening closed by the plug the valves can be removed and the valve seats can be reground if necessary.

The cylindrical valve having a constant rotary movement in one direction provides a convenient means for attachment ofthe ro tating member 25 of a timing device for controlling the ignition spark and this member is connected operatively with the upper extremity of the valve by means of a stem 26 inserted in an opening 26 therein and cured thereto by any convenient means. The commutator ring or outer member 27 and its case 28 are preferably sleeved over the stem of the rotatable member 25 and supported thereon and the relative angle of the contact segment therein to the valve stem is controlled by means of a spring pawl 30 pivoted upon an arm 31 extending from the side of the outer member, and adapted to engage the teeth of a rack 32 upon a stationary arm 38 secured to the engine cylinder or other convenient support. By means of this adjustment for the timer the circuit is connected to produce the spark at the proper time either earlier or later as compared with the movement of the engine, by which arrangement it is possible to produce the spark as desired either after the piston has passed the dead center, or more or less before reaching the dead center, and the ignition can be made to take place at any fixed point desired.

The rotating contact member preferably comprises a roller 25 pivoted in an arm 3% which in turn is pivoted eccentrically on the extremity of the stem or shaft 26 or upon a broadened head 85 thereon. This eccentric arrangement of the arm 34 permits of the employment of a much larger roller 25 than could be used if the arm 34 were attached at the axial point of the stem 26. A spring 36 maintains positive contact of the arm with the commutator ring.

Having described the invention what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an explosion engine, the combina tion with the cylinder having piston controlled inlet and exhaust ports, a piston therein, a crank and crank case, the said cylinder having a circulating passage leading from said crank case to said inlet port, a valve casing secured over said passage provided with a cylindrical opening form ing a valve seat and with a passage connecting said cylindrical opening with said circulating passage, said cylindrical opening provided with separate gas and air inlets, and an annular recess communicating with the air inlet opening, said valve provided with an air inlet opening always in communication with said annular recess, said valve also provided with a separate gas inlet opening, and with an outlet opening, adapted to communicate with said connecting passage simultaneously with the admission of gas through the said gas inlet opening.

2. The combination with a cylinder having inlet and exhaust ports, and a crank case provided with a compression chamber, said cylinder having a recessed circulating passage in its wall connecting said chamber and inlet valve port, a valve casing forming the outer wall of said passage and provided with a cylindrical opening communicating with said passage, and a hollow rotatable valve in said cylindrical opening, said valve serving as a mixing chamber for gas and air, and provided with separate inlet openings therefor, and said valve casing provided with a gas inlet opening, and with an air inlet opening arranged to encircle said valve, whereby the interior of said valve is always subjected to atmospheric pressure, said valve provided with an open ing adapted to communicate with said circulating passage in said cylinder, when the valve is turned to open the gas inlet opening therein, said gas inlet opening being arranged intermediate between said air inlet and said outlet openings respectively.

3. The combination with a valve casing having a cylindrical opening, of a combined commingling chamber and valve rotatable in said opening, said valve provided with independent air and gas inlet openings and with a separate outlet openin the said casing having corresponding inlet and outlet openings, the inlet opening for air encircling said valve and air inlet opening therein, whereby the interior of said valve is always under atmospheric pressure.

4:. In an explosion engine, a cylinder having gas inlet and exhaust ports, a crank case provided with a chamber communicating with the inlet port, a piston and rod, in said cylinder a crank shaft and crank therefor in said case, a valve casing, a rotatable valve operatively connected with said shaft, a cylindrical opening in said valve casing forming a seat for said valve, said opening provided with separate inlet openings for gas and air, and a separate outlet opening communicating with said chamber in said crank casing, said valve casing detachably secured to said cylinder, and said casing and cylinder wall provided with registering passages, communicating with said gas inlet port and with said chamber in said crank case, and with said outlet opening in said valve.

5. The combination with a valve casing having a cylindrical opening serving as a valve seat, said casing provided with an air inlet opening adjacent to one end, an outlet opening for commingled gas and air at the other end and a gas inlet opening intermediate the air inlet and the outlet openings, and a cylindrical valve provided with air and gas inlet openings and an outlet opening adapted to register with the said respective air, gas inlet, and outlet openings, said valve provided with a central longitudinal opening communicating with said respective openings for air and gas admission, and with said outlet opening.

In testimony whereof, we hereunto set our hands this 1st day of March 1911.

LESTER E. FRANCE. MERLE C. FRANCE. In presence of 7M. M. MONROE, Gno. ,S. COLE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

